Collapsible box



Sept. 4, 1923. 1,467,089

' C. S. BROWN COLLAPS IBLE BOX Filed Aug. 23, 1921' s SheetsSheet 1 o a R) 6 C. 8. BROWN CQLLAPSIBLE BOX Sept. 4, 1923.

.Filed Aug. 23. 1921 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1923. 1,467,089

C. 8. BROWN CO'LLAPSIBLE] BOX Filed Aug. 25, 1921 s sheets-sheet 5.

' ple,

Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

uNrrEo STATES CHARLES S. BROVIN, OF GLENMQNT, OHIO.

coLIJAPsI BLE 1202;.

Application filed August 23, 1921. Serial No. 494,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glenmont, in the county of Holmes and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsibleboxes and more specifically to certain new and useful improvements in a collapsible or folding box which maybe used to particular advanta 'e as a shipping package. 7

l3roadly stated, objects of the invention are to provide a strong, durable box of simrelatively inexpensive construction which may be quickly and easily extended and used as a shipping package or used for other purposes and which may be convene iently folded to form a. compact package so that it will occupy a. minimum amount of space when in transportation or storage.

Another obj ect'of the invention is to provide a box having side and end walls which may be folded in superposed relation onthe bottom of the box and to provide a new and improved closure means therefor and fur ther to provide a novel and efficient means for detachably securing the side and end walls in an assembled or extended relation.

A still further object is to provide a box having its four sides hinged to the box base and having its top hinged to one of its sides with the hinges arranged to providecorner reinforcing means for the corners of the box and means wherebythe side members may be securely held in an extended croperative position.

The above and additional objects are ac-' complished by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that changes, variations and modifications may be made or substitutions resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein similar numerals of reference have been employed to designate like parts as they appear'in the several views and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a central, vertical, sectional view taken as indicated by theline of- Figure 1.

Figure 3i s a central, horizontal, sect onal vlew taken as indicated by the line 3 3'of F igure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing in plan the manner of securing the sides of the box in assembled relation, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the interior of the'box at one of the upper corners thereof with the box lid turned back in an open position.

Figure 6 is a central vertical sectional view, taken Figural. Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in section my improved means for holding the lid in a locked or closed posi tion. "Figure 8 is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with this inven-- tion showing the same in a collapsed or folded position.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken ap-' proximately on line 9 9 of Figure 8.

, Figure 10 is a similar sectional view taken approximately on line 1lO-:1O of Figure 8; p:

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 is used generally to denote the box as indicated by thelines 6 6 of bottom and the'numerals 11, 12, 13 and 14 denote side pieces which are rigidly secured to the bottom 1O so as to form a-box base or hollow container adapted to receive the sides and lid of the box When the same are in a. folded positioni In the particular adaptation of the "inven tion shown, the cleats 15 and 16 are secured to the underside of the bottom .10 to hold it in spaced relation to a floor or similar surface. Each of the four sides of my improved box are secured to the bottom 10 by hinges arranged to permit the sides to be folded inwardly in superposed relation. The numerals 18, 20, 23 and 26-are used to denote the said hinges lwhich, while differentin details of construction, are similar and it is believed that a description of one of said hinges Will be sufficient for the um derstanding of them all.

In Figure 111, I have illustrated the hinge 20 and will describe the same in detail." The reference character 20 denotes a plate which tom 10 in the extreme corner of the box. The reference character 2O denotes a strap which is hinged tothe plate 20 so as to swing on a horizontal axis. The strap 20 is provided with the flange 20 which projects outwardly therefrom at a right angle thereto. The numeral 2O denotes a portion of the strap 20 which is turned upwardly therefrom at a right angle thereto and at a right angle to the strap 20". The strap 20" is-of less width than the plate 20 and is hinged thereto so that the flat edge 20 is in spaced parallel relation to the upturned portion 20 The strap 20 is hingedly connected to the upturned portion 20 so as to swing. on a horizontal axis. The strap 20* is provided .at its outer edge with a flange portion 2O which projects at a right angle therefrom and the portion 20 projects from the portion 20 so as to extend inwardly in parallel spaced relation to the strap 20 The portion 2O and 20 form an overturned edge adapted when in a vertical position to receive the flange 20 on the strap 20". A relatively short portion 20- is hingedly connected to the upwardly projecting end of the strap 20 and the strap 20" is likewise hinged to the portion 20 The outer edge of the portion 2O is overturned to provide the flange 20 and the portion 20 is provided with a similar overturned portion 20 for a purpose hereinafter described. Each of the hinges 18, 23 and 26 are provided with portions which are similar to the portions of-the hinge 20 hereinbefore described and a similar let ter has been added to the reference numeral denoting each hinge to represent parts which compare to the parts in the hinge 20.

The plate 20 and the strap 20 'form a hinge which secures one end of the side 19 to the bottom of the box. The opposite end of the end wall 19 is similarly secured to the bottom 10 of the portions 18 and 18 of the hinge 18.

It will be noted that the end wall 19 may be thus swung from an upright portion to a osition fiat against the bottom 10. he numeral 17 denotes the opposite end of the box which is secured by means of the hinges 13 and 26 to the bottom 10 so as to swing on a horizontal axis and fold flat on the end wall 19 when it is folded flat on the bottom 10.

, Inasmuch as the end 17 must besecured to the bottom 10 so that it will fold fiat upon the side 19, the bottom edge thereof is positioned in parallel spaced relation to the said bottom 10. The opening between the lower edge of the end 17 and the bottom of the box is filled with a strip 17' which extends between the portion 28 of the'hinge 23 and the portion 26 of the hinge 26.

The numeral 22 denotes the front wall which is connected to the bottom 10 by means of the hinges 18 and 26 which are arranged to permit the side 22 to be folded flat upon the end wall 17 when the box is in a folded position. A strip 24 is secured against the under face of the side 11 so as to extend between the said hinges and fill the space between the bottom 10 and the lower edge of the front wall 22 when the said wall is in a vertical position. The back wall 21 of the box is secured to the hinge portion 20 of the hinge portion 20 and to a similar portion of the hinge 23 so that it may be folded flat against the front wall when the said wall is in a folded position.

The end wall 19 is secured to the strap 20 of the hinge 20 and the strap 18 of the hinge 18. The said straps being positioned on the inner face of the wall 19 with the said wall between the flanges 20 and 18 and with the said flanges extending in parallel spaced relation to the respective ends of the wall. The space between the flange 20 and the edge of the wall 18 provides a recess adapted to receive the por tion 20 of the hinge 20 and the flange 18" at the opposite end of said wall is similarly positioned in relation thereto to form a recess adapted to receive the portion 18" on the hinge 18. The end wall 17 is similarly secured to the straps 23 and 26 so that a similar recess may be formed to receive the plates 26 and 23. The back wall of the box is secured to the strap 20 and 23 With its opposite ends registered in the hook formed by the portions 20 and 20 on the hinge 20 and the hook formed by the portions 23 and 23 on the hinge 23 as will be seen by the examination of Figure 4. The portions 2O and 25 are of a sufficient/width to form a recess between each of the portions 20 and 23 and the inner face of the rear wall 21. The recess thus formed is adapted to receive the flange 20 on the strap 20. The front wall 22 is similarly secured to the strap 18 and 26 with the portions 22 and 22 forming approximately the same interlocking connection with the flange 18 as is found in the hinge 20.

The lid of the box is in two parts, viz, a narrow portion 27 and a wider portion 28. The narrow portion 27 is secured to the hinge portions 20 and 23 with its ends received between the overturned portions 20 and 23 The lid portion 28 is secured to the strap 20 and 23 with its ends received between the overturned portions 2O and 23 The numeral 29 is used to denote a spring catch, one of which is secured to the inner face of the back wall 21 at a point adjacent each end thereof so as to engage the straps 20 and 23 and hold the ends 17 and 19 in an open position. The lid portions 28 and 29 extend over the four sides of the box, when the said walls are in an open position and the lid portion 28 is provided with cleats 30, one of which'is secured to the inner face of the lid portion 28 so as to engage the end walls of the box and hold the same from inward movement when the lid is in a closed position as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The numeral 31 denotes a recessed plate which is suitably secured in a suitable open ing in the lid portion 28 at a point adjacent the outer edge thereof. The plate 31 is pro vided with an opening 31 adapted to re ceive the spring snap member 32 which is secured to the inner face of the front wall 33 and through the aperture 32 and a seal may be secured to the ends of the wire as shown in Figure 7.

Attention is now called to Figures 8, 9 and 10 in which have shown my improved box as the same is collapsed for storage or shipment. It will be noted that the end wall 19 is positioned flat against the bottom 10, the end wall 17 is flat upon the wall 19, the front wall 22 is flat against the end wall 17 and the rear wall 21 flat against the wall 22.

It will also be noted that the portion 27 of the box lid is folded flat against the wall 22 and is positioned on a level with the rear wall 21 and that the lid portion 28 is flat upon the rear wall 22 and the lid portion 27.

To open a box constructed in accordance with this invention, the front and rear walls are swung to a vertical position. The end wall 17 is then swung upwardly to a ver tical position so that the flange 26 interlocks with the flange 26" and the flange 23 interlocks with the flange 23. The spring 19 is positioned in the rear wall 21 so that it will not obstruct the upward swing of the end wall 17, but is arranged to hold the same from inward movement. The end wall 17 is then swung to a vertical position and is likewise held in interlocking engagement with the front and end walls by the spring 19. When the lid of the box is closed, the end walls are addi tionally held from inward movement by the cleats 30 on the lid portion 28. The front and rear walls are held from outward movement by the interlocking portions of the hinges 18, 20, 23 and 26 above described.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a box of strong durable construction, which may be manufactured at alow cost and which may be conveniently collapsed so that it may be stored in a comparatively small space. I

Having thus set forth the objects of my invention, illustrated an embodiment thereof and described the same in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In a folding box, a rectangular base having relatively low fixed side and end walls, an end wall hinged to said base so as to fold flat thereagainst and tobe 1nov able to a vertical position, the other end wall hinged to said base on an axis in spaced parallel relation thereto so as to fold flat on the first named end wall andbe movable to a vertical position, a front wall hinged to said base so as to swing on an axis in spaced parallel relation thereto and so as to fold flat against the last named end wall and be movable to a-vertical position, a rear wall similarly hinged to said base so as to fold against said front wall, a lid adapted to extend over the upper edges of said side and end walls, said lid comprising a narrow portion and a wide portion, the said narrow portion being hinged to said rear wall so as to fold flat against the said front wall in the same plane with said rear wall, the said.

wide portion hinged to said narrow portion so as to fold flat on said rear wall and narrow portion, and interlocking means associated with said walls whereby the same may be held in an open position.

2. In a folding box of the class described, a rectangular base having relatively low fixed side and end walls, an end wall hinged to said base so as to fold flat thereagainst and to be movable to a vertical position against the adjacent fixed end wall; the

other end wall hinged to said base on an axis in spaced parallel relation thereto so as to fold flat on the first named end wall and be movable to a vertical position against the adjacent fixed end wall; a front wall hinged to said base so as to swing on an axis in spaced parallel relation thereto and so as to fold'flat against the last named end wall and be movable to a vertical position against the adjacent fixed side wall; a rear wall similarly hinged to said base so as to fold against said front wall, a lid adapted to extend over the upper edges of said side and end walls, said lid comprising a narrow portion and a wide portion,the said narrow secure said end walls in a vertical position.

3. In a folding box, a rectangular base, relatively low fixed walls projecting upwardly from each side thereof, a hinge at each corner of said base, each of said hinges comprising a plate secured flat against said base, a strap hingedly connected to each outer edge of said plate and adapted to swing on horizontal axes disposed at right angles with the axis of similar straps on the same side of the base in alignment and a side wall secured to each pair of similar straps.

4. In a folding box, a rectangular base, relatively low fixed walls projecting upwardly from each side thereof, a hinge at each corner of said base, each hinge comprising a plate secured flat against said base in the extreme corner thereof, a strap hingedly connected to the two outer edges of said plate and adapted to swing on axes positioned at right angles to each other and each disposed in a different horizontal plane with the axes of similar straps on the same side of the base in alignment, the outermost edge of each strap provided with a flange adapted to interlock with the flange on the adjacent strap when the same are swung to a vertical position and a wall secured to each pair of similar straps.

5. In a folding box a rectangular base, a hinge at each corner thereof, each hinge comprising a plate secured flat against said base, a strap hingedly connected to each outer edge of each plate so that the straps will swing in vertical planes intersecting at right angles along a line extending vertically from the corner of said base, the straps at the ends of the base each provided with an outwardly projecting flange, the straps at the front and rear sides of said base provided with inwardly projecting flanges adapted to interlock with the first named flanges when the straps are in a vertical position and walls secured to said straps so as to fold in superposed relation on said base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES S BROWN. 

